Chickawaukie Ice Boat Club

Thanks Deb!

Jory,
I have mixed emotions about your decision. I was having an awful time making up my mind if I should rig a boat and sail with you guys or go over and join the gang for the big kitewing tour of Squam on skis…I think I would have opted for the super DN and storm sail..
At least now I know what I’m doing tomorrow. I will be going to Winni Sunday and Monday. The ice is very good and very big and I actually thrive in extreme cold. If I can only find someone else to join me….
While kitewinging today we found a stranded loon. I sailed back to the beach then skated back with a blanket and caught the loon. I skated back to the beach with my new friend tight in my arms and waited 45 minutes watching the sun set with a toasty, mostly calm, loon in my lap until the loon rescue folks showed up.
We winged yesterday on Squam with skis amongst swirling snow devils and ground blizzards.
Damn I love winter.
Lee

Bill and I have been looking more soberly at the weekend weather…doing our best to keep our engines revved up…..three things are clear…..extremely cold….extremely windy….the launch seems a bleak place, far from cuddly comforts…so we’re going to delay until later in the workweek….perhaps other (younger?) hounds will go anyway and give a report….all the best, jory

looks like Ellacoya will be the launch on saturday…..maybe about 10 am….bill and i will be there, with storm sails added to the baggage….we plan to become residents there until something changes…at least the weekend…..do call if you want to be sure to coordinate….bill’s cell is 207 975 6980….jory

Steve Lamb reports that Norton Reservoir and a few other local ponds have an inch and a half of black ice. He anticipates they will be worth investigating this weekend. Call him for more details.

Lee Spiller ventured out on Lake Winnipeasukee this afternoon from Ellacoya to find a uniform 4″ plate. It extends at least from Rattlesnake Island north into the islands. Below is a photo looking north; I believe that’s Welch Island on the right. He thought there were some open holes further out, but we’re waiting for confirmation if he ever comes back! Even if the full extent of the plate isn’t known, he says what he scouted is plenty big for sailing.

Anyone interested in finding out more this weekend? Forecast looks grand. We are working on getting the access at Ellacoya plowed out, but another option is the Belknap Point Motel. We stayed there during the epic ice of 2010 and were able to launch and moor the boats right there. Am still waiting on confirmation on that. Ames Beach is also not well plowed and the ice in there isn’t so great anyway, according to Lee.